Fostering Respect
In every workplace, respect and inclusivity are key to fostering a positive, productive, and safe environment. However, harmful behaviours such as bullying, harassment, and discrimination can disrupt this balance, affecting wellbeing, team morale, and overall performance. This course is designed to empower employees with the knowledge and practical skills to recognise, prevent, and respond to these behaviours effectively. Through interactive activities and real-world scenarios, participants will gain valuable insights into creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported, and safe.
What We Cover
Topic 1: Building an Inclusive Workplace
This session explores the foundations of an inclusive workplace, highlighting how respect, diversity, and belonging contribute to a positive and productive environment. Participants will gain practical strategies to foster inclusivity and identify improvements within their teams.
Key Learning Points:
- Traits of Inclusivity: Understand the key elements of respect, diversity, and belonging that create an inclusive workplace.
- Benefits of Inclusivity: Discover how fostering inclusivity improves teamwork, productivity, and employee engagement.
- Practical Steps: Master strategies such as active listening and recognising unconscious bias to build inclusivity.
Why It Matters:
Promoting inclusivity fosters collaboration, boosts morale, and ensures every employee feels valued, creating a stronger, more cohesive workplace.
Topic 2: Legal Responsibilities
This session provides an overview of key Australian workplace laws, helping participants understand their legal obligations and the roles everyone plays in maintaining a safe and respectful environment.
Key Learning Points:
- Understanding the Law: Gain insight into the Fair Work Act, Anti-Discrimination Act, and WHS laws that govern workplace behaviours.
- Roles and Responsibilities: Understand the obligations of employers and employees in preventing and addressing harmful behaviours.
- Consequences of Non-Compliance: Explore the legal and financial impacts of failing to address workplace risks effectively.
Why It Matters:
Clear understanding of legal responsibilities equips employees and employers to work together effectively, preventing risks and maintaining compliance.
Topic 3: Defining Harmful Workplace Behaviours
This session helps participants identify and understand harmful workplace behaviours, focusing on their definitions, impacts, and how to recognise them.
Key Learning Points:
- What is Bullying? Learn how repeated, unreasonable behaviour can pose risks to health and safety.
- Understanding Harassment: Explore behaviours that humiliate, offend, or intimidate individuals.
- Defining Discrimination: Recognise unfair treatment based on attributes such as age, gender, or race.
Impacts: Understand the effects of these behaviours on individuals, team morale, and workplace culture.
Why It Matters:
Recognising harmful behaviours helps prevent conflicts, promotes respect, and ensures a safe and inclusive work environment for all.
Topic 4: Reasonable Management Action
This session clarifies what constitutes reasonable management actions, helping participants distinguish them from bullying behaviours to ensure fairness and compliance.
Key Learning Points:
- Defining Reasonable Management: Learn how actions like performance feedback and managing workplace issues fall under reasonable practices.
- Differentiating from Bullying: Understand the differences between constructive management and behaviour that could be perceived as bullying.
Why It Matters:
Understanding the difference between fair management and bullying builds trust and creates a supportive workplace culture rooted in fairness.
Topic 5: Responding to Harmful Behaviours
This session equips participants with practical steps to address harmful workplace behaviours effectively, ensuring a safe and supportive environment.
Key Learning Points:
- Documenting Incidents: Learn how to accurately record details of harmful behaviours for reporting.
- Reporting: Understand the importance of notifying HR or a manager about issues promptly.
- Seeking Support: Explore resources such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and trusted colleagues for guidance and reassurance.
Why It Matters:
Providing employees with the tools to address harmful behaviours empowers them to take action, protect wellbeing, and strengthen workplace harmony.
Topic 6: Active Bystander Strategies
This session introduces the 4-Step Active Bystander approach, empowering participants to intervene safely and effectively when witnessing harmful behaviours.
Key Learning Points:
- Defuse: Use calm language or distraction techniques to de-escalate situations safely.
- Check-in: Privately ensure the victim feels supported and safe.
- Call Out: Address harmful behaviour respectfully when it’s safe to do so.
- Report: Escalate the issue through appropriate reporting channels and document the incident.
Why It Matters:
Empowering employees with active bystander strategies encourages accountability and helps build a workplace where safety and respect are prioritised.
Find Your Answers Here!
General Program Information
1. Who is the training designed for?
This training is designed primarily for employees and workers in non-management roles, helping them build the skills to recognise, prevent, and address bullying, harassment, and harmful workplace behaviours.
However, it’s also suitable for managers and supervisors, offering tailored insights into leadership responsibilities, legal obligations, and strategies for promoting a respectful and inclusive workplace. Customisation options allow organisations to adapt the training for leadership teams, ensuring managers can confidently address workplace behaviours while fostering safety and accountability.
Whether for employees, managers, or both, this program ensures a consistent understanding of respectful workplace practices, empowering every level of your organisation to contribute to a positive and compliant work environment.
2. Can the training time be reduced?
Yes, the training time can be reduced to align with your schedule and organisational needs. However, this may require the removal of certain topics or the development of a customised version to meet your specific learning objectives.
Both options are possible, and we’re happy to tailor the program to ensure it remains practical and relevant to your goals. Depending on the level of customisation required, additional costs may apply.
The first step is to contact us to discuss your training objectives. Together, we’ll find a solution that balances your time constraints with your organisation’s needs.
3. What industries is this training most suitable for?
This workplace bullying and harassment training is suitable for all industries. Whether your organisation operates in healthcare, retail, hospitality, education, social services, corporate environments, or manufacturing, the principles of respect, inclusivity, and compliance are universal.
The training is designed to be flexible, making it valuable in both proactive and reactive contexts:
- Proactive Use: Ideal for organisations seeking to prevent issues by fostering a positive workplace culture. It equips employees with the skills to recognise and address harmful behaviours before they escalate.
- Reactive Use: Useful for addressing existing challenges, such as after a bullying or harassment complaint, to rebuild trust, educate employees, and prevent future incidents.
The program can be tailored to reflect the unique challenges, dynamics, and compliance requirements of your industry. By addressing bullying and harassment effectively, this training supports a respectful, compliant, and productive workplace culture across all sectors.
4. Is the training tailored to our specific workplace challenges and risks?
Yes, the training can be fully customised to address your organisation’s specific challenges, policies, and workplace dynamics, ensuring the solutions are practical, relevant, and aligned with your existing frameworks.
Our approach is also trauma-aware, recognising that some participants may have experienced or witnessed workplace bullying, harassment, or aggression in the past. We create a supportive and safe learning environment by:
- Framing content sensitively to avoid re-traumatisation.
- Encouraging voluntary participation in discussions or activities.
- Offering additional resources and support where needed.
We also understand the sensitivity surrounding conversations about bullying and harassment. All discussions are treated with complete confidentiality, and our training consultants are happy to sign additional Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) to provide peace of mind.
Customising the training allows us to tailor examples, activities, and messaging to resonate with your team, while fostering a respectful, compliant, and trauma-aware workplace culture.
5. Do you provide training outside of Melbourne?
Yes, while we are based in Melbourne, we offer training across all Australian states and territories. We are happy to travel to your location to deliver our training in person.
If you’re outside Victoria, we can discuss travel arrangements and tailor the program to meet the specific needs of your organisation and local compliance requirements.
Please note that the standard cost of the training remains the same regardless of location. However, travel costs, including transportation and accommodation (if required), will be added to the final invoice.
Contact us to discuss your training needs and receive a customised quote, including travel costs for your location!
Training Content
6. Does the training align with current health and safety legislation?
Absolutely. Our training is fully aligned with Victoria’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act and regulations, as well as the Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act, which governs other states and territories across Australia.
Specifically designed to help organisations meet their legal obligations, our program focuses on:
- Providing participants with strategies to identify, assess, and manage harmful workplace behaviours effectively.
- Equipping employees and leaders with practical tools to prevent bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
- Supporting the implementation of safety measures that comply with legislative standards.
Whether your organisation operates in Victoria or across multiple jurisdictions, our training ensures you meet your duty of care responsibilities while fostering a respectful and compliant workplace culture.
Contact us today to learn how we can assist with compliance, risk management, and creating a safer workplace for your team.
7. Can the training be customised to align with our existing health and safety policies?
Yes. We customise our training to align with your organisation’s existing health and safety policies, ensuring the content is directly relevant to your workplace. To achieve this, we will request a copy of your Bullying and Harassment policy so we can tailor the training to reflect your organisation's specific messaging and guidelines.
For clients who would like a review of their current Bullying and Harassment policy, we offer this as an additional service. Our team can assess your policy to identify areas for improvement and ensure it meets current legislative requirements and best practices.
Customising the training to your policies ensures consistency across your workplace, enhances employee engagement, and supports a unified approach to fostering a respectful and compliant work environment.
8. Are there interactive components, such as role-playing or simulations?
Yes, the training includes interactive elements such as case studies, group discussions, and scenario-based exercises to engage participants and enhance practical learning.
Post Training Support
9. Does the program include post-training support or resources?
Yes, the program includes post-training support to reinforce learning and promote continued development.
Each participant receives a Participant Guide that:
- Summarises the key content covered during training in an easy-to-reference format.
- Provides additional insights and practical tips to deepen understanding of the material.
- Includes curated links to learning resources that support ongoing growth and application.
These resources are designed to help participants retain and apply their knowledge effectively, while also empowering organisations to achieve lasting improvements in workplace safety, culture, and operational readiness.
10. Is there additional support available after the initial OVA training for employees?
Yes, we offer additional support to ensure the knowledge and skills gained during training are effectively applied in the workplace.
For organisations seeking ongoing assistance, we provide:
- Follow-Up Sessions: These can be tailored to reinforce key concepts, address workplace-specific challenges, or introduce advanced topics as needed.
- Customised Resources: Additional tools, templates, and guides can be developed to support your team in maintaining a respectful and safe work environment.
- Policy Review and Development: We can assist with reviewing or updating your workplace policies to align with best practices and legislative requirements.
If further guidance is required, we also offer one-on-one or group mentoring sessions for leaders and employees to strengthen their confidence and skills in fostering a positive workplace culture.
Contact us to explore the best options for your team!
Book Your Free Safety Chat Today!
Are you ready to engage in health and safety training that transforms your workplace? With onsite and remote learning options, we provide comprehensive support throughout your training journey. Explore our standard packages or connect with us to design custom workshops tailored to your team’s unique safety challenges. Book your discovery call today to get started!